What’s Ahead
House Leadership Deadlock Ends But Future Standoffs Likely
Last week’s deadlock over House leadership ended in the early hours of Jan. 7, when on their 15th vote members elected Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as speaker by a razor-thin margin. To secure assent from holdouts in his party’s far-right flank, McCarthy made steep concessions, including allowing single members of his party to initiate votes to remove him. Hardliners are expected to try to force McCarthy into standoffs with the Democrat-controlled Senate and the Biden administration, particularly over budgets. If Democrats do not agree to sharply constrain spending , Republicans could threaten to shut down the government by not passing new appropriations legislation or decline to raise the federal debt limit, risking severe economic consequences. McCarthy has also promised far-right members three spots on the House Rules Committee, giving them sway over what proposals reach the floor and potentially making it more difficult to reach bipartisan agreements.
This week, the new House majority’s first step will be to adopt a rules package formalizing how it will run the chamber, including what constraints it will place on consideration of spending legislation. Disruptions stemming from standoffs or broad cutbacks in federal spending would certainly affect science agencies, despite the bipartisan buy-in for recent science policy initiatives such as the CHIPS and Science Act. Some particular science policy issues may also become the subject of controversy in ad hoc committees. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) is poised to chair a new committee on strategic competition with China that is likely to push additional restrictions on R&D exchanges with that country. Also, the existing coronavirus committee will change direction under Republican leadership, with attention focusing on topics such as the “lab leak” hypothesis of the pandemic’s origin, dangers associated with “gain-of-function” research, and the actions of Anthony Fauci , who has just retired as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The “climate crisis” committee the Democrats ran during the last two congresses will not continue and Republicans now plan to focus oversight on clean energy projects funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. They also plan to keep a close eye on the semiconductor initiatives funded through the CHIPS and Science Act.
In Case You Missed It
State Department Creates Emerging Technology Envoy Office
The State Department announced last week it has established an Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology as part of a broader “modernization agenda” Secretary of State Antony Blinken is pursuing focused on technology diplomacy . The office’s aim is to be a “center of expertise and energy to develop and coordinate critical and emerging technology foreign policy, and to engage foreign partners on emerging technologies that will transform our societies, economies, and security — including biotechnology, advanced computing, artificial intelligence, and quantum information technologies.” The department has not announced who will be the special envoy but appointed as deputy envoy Seth Center, who previously worked as a historian at the National Security Council and as a senior adviser to the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence and the Special Competitive Studies Project . Despite his focus on emerging technology, Blinken has yet to appoint a science and technology adviser, a position the department created in 2000 to better incorporate technical expertise into its activities.
Intelligence Agencies Urged to Expand S&T Engagement
The National Academies released a report last month that identifies shortcomings in the ability of U.S. intelligence agencies to stay abreast of the latest advances in science and technology. The report’s primary recommendation is for the director of national intelligence to elevate attention to S&T across the intelligence community by appointing a chief technology and innovation officer, who would focus in part on coordinating R&D efforts across agencies and with outside organizations. Broadly, the report observes that the culture of secrecy at intelligence agencies can hamper access to cutting-edge research and it urges more engagement with researchers who primarily work in unclassified settings. It specifically proposes that intelligence agencies consider establishing more rotational positions that bring in scientists from academia and industry, including at the unclassified and secret levels since higher-level clearances can confer lifelong publication restrictions. It points to the CIA’s decision to establish a more open laboratory as a promising step and notes other intelligence agencies are considering establishing analogous labs. The report was developed by a 17-member committee chaired by Frederick Chang, chair of the computer science department at Southern Methodist University. In his preface, Chang explains that the report focuses on high-level organizational matters in part because a 2021 task force organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies had already covered more detailed issues.
DARPA Funds New Microelectronics R&D Centers
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency announced last week that it is distributing about $230 million to create seven microelectronics research centers based at universities. Two of the centers will be hosted by Georgia Tech and the others are at Columbia University , Cornell University , Penn State University , University of California San Diego , and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign . The grants kick off the second phase of the Joint University Microelectronics Program (JUMP), which is part of DARPA’s broader Electronic Resurgence Initiative.
NSF Selects Next Materials Research Division Director
The National Science Foundation announced last week it has selected Germano Iannacchione to lead the Materials Research Division within its Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences. An expert in soft condensed matter with a doctoral degree in physics, Iannacchione has been a professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute since 1998. He previously spent three years at NSF as a rotator overseeing the division’s condensed matter physics and biomaterials programs. Iannacchione will take over the role at the end of January from Linda Sapochak, who has led the division since 2016.
Events This Week
All times are Eastern Standard Time, unless otherwise noted. Listings do not imply endorsement.
Monday, January 9
American Astronomical Society: 241st meeting
(continues through Thursday)
American Meteorological Society: 103rd annual meeting
(continues through Thursday)
National Academies: Board on Science Education, meeting 38
(continues Tuesday)
White House: “Listening Session for the National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative”
2:00 - 3:30 pm
Tuesday, January 10
NOAA: “New Technology for the Ocean Decade”
9:00 am
Brookings Institution: “The Future of the U.S.-China Competition for Human Capital”
10:00 - 11:00 am
CSIS: “Government Policies for Open Source Software”
10:00 - 11:00 am
Washington Post: “The New Space Age, with Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche”
4:00 pm
National Academies: “Confucius Institutes at U.S. Institutions of Higher Education,” report release briefing
4:00 - 5:00 pm
Wednesday, January 11
Hudson Institute: “Fighting China with Chips: U.S. Microelectronics Supplies During a Trade War”
10:00 - 11:00 am
CSIS: “Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology”
10:30 - 11:30 am
NDIA: “
State of the Space Industrial Base”
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Carnegie Endowment: “Technologies of Tomorrow: A Conversation with Eric Schmidt”
2:30 - 3:15 pm
Thursday, January 12
National Academies: “Biohybrid Materials and Technologies for Today and Tomorrow”
(continues Friday)
Aerospace Corporation: “Fact or (Science) Fiction of Space Diplomacy”
1:00 - 2:00 pm
National Academies: Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board meeting
1:00 - 4:30 pm
Friday, January 13
NSF: National AI Research Resource Task Force meeting
1:00 - 2:00 pm
Saturday, January 14
Atlantic Council: 2023 Global Energy Forum
(continues Sunday)
Opportunities
Federal Lab Assessment Board Seeking Members
The National Academies is seeking nine members for its Laboratory Assessments Board, which carries out technical reviews of national laboratories and other federal research facilities. Nominees should have expertise in laboratory management, program development, or the assessment of R&D activities. Nominations are due Jan. 13.
NASA Hiring Biological and Physical Sciences Head
NASA is hiring a director for the Biological and Physical Sciences Division within its Science Mission Directorate. With an annual budget around $85 million, the division supports research on how biological and physical systems respond to spaceflight environments in order to advance scientific discovery and enable space exploration. Candidates must have demonstrated experience managing a diverse portfolio of biological or physical sciences research programs. Applications are due March 3.
Input Sought on National Nature Assessment
The U.S. Global Change Research Program is seeking input to inform its first National Nature Assessment, which will “assess the status, observed trends, and future projections of America’s lands, waters, wildlife, biodiversity and ecosystems and the benefits they provide.” Specific benefits to be assessed include “connections to the economy, public health, equity, climate mitigation and adaptation, and national security.” USGCRP is specifically seeking input on potential audiences and uses for the assessment, as well as which questions and trends it should address. Comments are due March 31.
For additional opportunities, please visit www.aip.org/fyi/opportunities . Know of an opportunity for scientists to engage in science policy? Email us at fyi@aip.org .
Know of an upcoming science policy event either inside or outside the Beltway? Email us at fyi@aip.org .
Around the Web
News and views currently in circulation. Links do not imply endorsement.
White House
Quantum.gov: The National Quantum Initiative supplement to the president’s FY 2023 budget (report)
E&E News: White House releases latest regulatory plans
E&E News: White House releases climate guidance for permitting
Congress
CRS: Science and technology issues for the 118th Congress (report)
SpaceNews: Five Democratic senators seek funding boost for NASA and NSF astrophysics programs
E&E News: Senate Democrats’ agenda: Oversight, permitting, foreign affairs
Politico: New House select committee seeks ‘Cold War’ victory over China (interview with Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI))
Science, Society, and the Economy
Association of University Research Parks: The geography of technology, science, and innovation under the CHIPS and Science Act (report)
University of Chicago: UChicago launches Polsky Deep Tech Ventures to support startups bringing science, tech to market
New York Times: The dystopia we fear is keeping us from the utopia we deserve (perspective by Ezra Klein)
Education and Workforce
Science: Has China’s Young Thousand Talents program been successful in recruiting and nurturing top-caliber scientists? (paper by Dongbo Shi, et al.)
Times Higher Education: China’s Young Thousand Talents fails to attract ‘top scientists’
Nature: China’s Thousand Talents Plan to entice researchers home boosted their output
Law360: DOJ wants 30 months for chemistry professor Franklin Tao in ‘China Initiative’ case
Drugmonkey: On verifying eligibility under NIH’s Interest in Diversity
Research Management
Science|Business: NSF looks to shake up funding with ‘Golden Ticket’ pilot
Nature: ‘Disruptive’ science has declined — and no one knows why
Fortune: Why IBM is no longer interested in breaking patent records — and how it plans to measure innovation in the age of open source and quantum computing (perspective by Darío Gil)
New York Times: Asian researchers face disparity in winning grants from NSF
What’s New Under the Sun: Age and the nature of innovation
Nature: Unearned authorship pervades science
Science: Update to retraction policy (editorial)
Nextgov: NASA science directorate wants help prioritizing what digital resources it should open-source first
Issues in Science and Technology: When NASA collaborated with social scientists to engage the public in two-way conversations about the agency’s Asteroid Initiative, the outcome surprised everyone (perspective by Mahmud Farooque and Jason Kessler)
Labs and Facilities
The Guardian: International nuclear fusion project ITER may be delayed by years, its head admits
World Nuclear News: Russia has completed the draft design for a molten-salt research reactor
Albuquerque Journal: Los Alamos National Lab receiving record funding
CERN Courier: A new ATLAS for the high-luminosity era
CERN Courier: CMS prepares for Phase II
Honolulu Star-Advertiser: Thirty Meter Telescope environmental review delayed by voluminous comments
Planetary Radio: Jet Propulsion Lab director wants ‘every brain’ to have the chance to work in space exploration (audio interview with Laurie Leshin)
Computing and Communications
Bloomberg: Battered by COVID, China hits pause on giant chip spending aimed at rivaling US
EE Times: Experts: US military chip supply is dangerously low
Nature: Are quantum computers about to break online privacy?
Shtetl-Optimized: Cargo cult quantum factoring
HPCwire: Supercomputing’s critical role in the fusion ignition breakthrough
Space
SpaceNews: NASA planetary science budget remains under stress
South China Morning Post: Chinese scientists scramble to wake Mars rover, plan to use orbiter to investigate, sources say
SpaceNews: NASA faces budget crunch for extended Earth science missions
SpaceNews: Independent review warns of cost growth on key Earth science mission
NASA: Retired NASA Earth Radiation Budget Satellite reenters atmosphere
Washington Post: Starlink satellite trains: Is this the future of the night sky?
Ars Technica: So long, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), and thanks for all the pork
Weather, Climate, and Environment
CRS: The US Geological Survey: Background and FY2023 appropriations
NESDIS: NOAA’s GOES-18 is now GOES West
Optics: NIST and NOAA upgrade ocean optical sensor
Colorado Sun: Better weather forecasts, and better alerts, are key to disaster response (perspective by Michael Glanz and Antonio Busalacchi)
Inside Climate News: NOAA climate scientists cruise Washington and Baltimore for hotspots — of greenhouse gases and air pollutants
Wall Street Journal: Will climate change really put New York underwater? (perspective by Steven Koonin)
Niskanen Center: Solar radiation management is here
Energy
Sifted: The EU delay on fusion is a scandal and a shame for an energy-embattled continent (perspective by André Loesekrug-Pietri)
Power: NuScale submits standard design approval application to NRC for uprated SMR design
New York Times: How a nuclear dump in Taiwan created a generation of activists
MIT Technology Review: Why 2023 is a breakout year for batteries
Bloomberg: China finds a place in US ‘battery belt’ with Ford, CATL deal (perspective by Anjani Trivedi)
E&E News: DOE eyes winners for nation’s first hydrogen hubs
Defense
Inside Defense: Pentagon wants Defense Innovation Board to assist in developing S&T strategy
Inside Defense: Shyu establishes ‘strategic investment capital’ task force at Defense Innovation Board
Defense News: Pentagon racing to restore US superiority in hypersonics
Reuters: Russian hackers targeted US nuclear scientists
Exchange Monitor: After ‘various delays,’ Livermore subcritical series to run through fiscal 2026
Breaking Defense: Sens. Reed (D-RI), Inhofe (R-OK) warn Biden AUKUS risks becoming ‘zero sum game’ for US Navy
Breaking Defense: Facing US lawmaker concerns, Australian prime minister defends AUKUS sub efforts
Biomedical
NIH: 2022: A year in review (perspective by Mike Lauer)
ARPA-H: ARPA-H selects Dr. Susan Monarez as deputy director
Inside Higher Education: Public health majors grow by more than 1,000%
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Despite risk-management gaps, countries press ahead with new labs that study deadly pathogens (perspective by Matt Field)
New York Times: AI turns its artistry to creating new human proteins
International Affairs
University Affairs: New advisory panel hopes to bring fresh look at research support in Canada
Japan Times: US and Japan to expand cooperation on key technologies beyond chips
Nikkei Asia: US lawmakers outline next frontiers of China tech competition
South China Morning Post: Top engineers and scientists dying at an unprecedented rate in China after lifting of COVID controls
Times Higher Education: China’s eastern universities told not to poach from lagging regions
Financial Times: The UK’s dream of becoming a ‘science superpower’
Physics World: UK must embrace overseas talent to become a ‘science superpower’, says report
Research Professional: UK’s new biosecurity strategy ambitions need ‘realistic funding’
Research Professional: UKRI staff ‘at breaking point’ as strike ballot looms
Science|Business: Switzerland kicked out of European research infrastructure coordination body
CERN Courier: From dreams to beams: SESAME’s 30 year-long journey in science diplomacy